New Love for Bible Journaling

New love for Bible Journaling

Hey guys!  I wanted to share with y’all a new love I discovered about a month ago.

September was Women’s Month at my church.  So the sweet Women’s Ministry leader challenged the women in our church to a 30 Day Bible Journal Challenge.  

It is where you sit down and pick a Bible verse.

Then you write the verse.  Writing the verse down helps memorization.  Its also fun using your favorite pen color and writing all fancy.  Or at least trying to.  😉 . Here are some of my favorite pens from Amazon!

New Love for Bible Journaling

You then study the verse.  I would read a few verses before and after the certain verse. 

I would then compare the verse in different versions using my phone app.  Versions I like are: NKJV, ESV, NIV.

I would also look at the foot notes section in a study Bible and write down any footnotes that stood out to me.  

New Love for Bible Journaling

After studying the verse, I would take a few moments to see how this can reflect in my life.  

Daily steps I might take or a topic I would focus on today.

To end my short devotional, I would write out a prayer.  I would ask Jesus to help me apply what I have learned from just one Bible verse.  

Here are some of my favorite things I have learned from studying just one verse a day.

zephaniah 3:17

Dear Jesus, 

“Please come into our home with your wisdom, guidance, and truth.” –  Psalm 127:1

Ps. 59:16

Dear Jesus, 

“Let me run towards you through growing in righteousness.” – Proverbs 18:10

1 Peter 1:14-15

Dear Jesus, 

“Thank you for your Son and Spirit.  Please allow your Spirit to grow more in me.”  – 2 Corinthians 3:17

3 John 1:11

Dear Jesus, 

“May every ‘step’ I take be pleasing unto you.”  – Ephesians 4:1

Matthew 7:17-20

Dear Jesus,

“Refresh my soul each day.” – Psalm 23:3

Jude 1:24

I am continuing journaling a Bible verse every day that I can.  I am not perfect so I miss some days.

New Love for Bible Journaling

I love this journal I found off amazon for less than $10!  I’ll link it here!

I want to encourage everyone to try this new habit of mine.  It can just take 10-15 minutes.  

I can personally say I have found so much wisdom and guidance just from reading one verse a day.  For a long time, I thought you had to be super studious and read a full chapter.

But just reading one verse a day, and taking some time to journal has taught me more and brought me closer to the Lord than many other devotional books I have read.  

Thankfully the Lord enjoys simplicity.  Love Him with your whole heart and just spend a few minutes each day.

Go read a Bible verse!

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

Proverbs 31 – A Virtuous Caregiver for the Needy… and Herself.

Proverbs 31 - A Virtuous Wife

I can’t believe how much I have already learned about this Proverbs 31 woman. She has a virtuous work ethic. She is a virtuous wife, mom, shopper, planner, and early riser with eager hands. All of that from just 9 verses.

Taking time to read these verses and write about these verses has helped me grow in Christ.

So how much more can this virtuous woman accomplish. Oh so much when she puts her heart, mind, and hands to the love of Christ.

Proverbs 31:20

Verse 20 – “She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

How often we are so self-focused making sure our own day is going to be okay. We often miss so many opportunities to serve and to be kind. We often say we are “searching” for opportunities to serve…. but when we just slow down, we can find opportunities all around.

I saw a sweet old man the other day at Meijer. He dropped a box he was picking up. I could see him struggling to reach it. It warmed my heart knowing I could easily help him. That same day, I saw another older gentleman lose his car. Me and two other people offered to help him find it.

Who knew that such small actions could be some of our best witnessing for the Lord!

Proverbs 31:21

Proverbs 31: 21 – “She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet.”

“Not afraid of snow.” Ha! I’m terrified of snow. I am a southern girl living in a midwest world. I don’t drive unless it’s an inch or less. 😉

The color scarlet is a brilliant red. While reading about it, I learned it often is a color of warmth and comfort. Benson Commentary says, “She has provided enough, not only for their necessity, and defense against the cold and other inconveniences but also for their delight and ornament.”

She puts thoughts of kindness into her deeds. She provides necessity and beyond!

Proverbs 31:22

Proverbs 31:22 – “She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.”

Tapestry is like a thick textile fabric. It often has pictures or designs on it. This is used for wall hangings or furniture. The verse also says, “She makes.” Is there anything this woman can’t do. 😉

“Her clothing is fine linen and purple.” She takes care of her own needs too!! Needs are not just food, water, and shelter. Women of Christ need to be: spiritually fed with Bible reading and prayer. Physically fed with sleep, exercise, and bubble baths in peace. 😉 . Mentally fed with loyal spouses and friends to uplift you.

Never forget that sometimes the best way to help others needs is to help your own needs first. Christ himself spent personal time with the Lord, instead of preaching and healing. Christ himself enjoyed time with just His disciples, instead of trying to physically help everyone.

The Lord loves you beyond measure…so love yourself.

Slow down.

Extend your hand!

Don’t fear snow. 😉

Be thoughtfully kind.

Wear some purple!

Jesus love you oh virtuous wife!

Proverbs 31 ~ A Virtuous Wife

Proverbs 31 - A Virtuous Wife

I’ve always felt passionate about Proverbs 31.  As a woman who takes her faith seriously, this is “goals” for wifehood.  Something that I believed the Lord has laid on my heart, is for me to study Proverbs 31… and to share my notes, thoughts, and rants with you.  

I think one big long post about this section would be way to long for even me to read.  I hope to spend a blog post just discussing a few verses to think about everyday.  

I hope that through this experience of reading and writing, we can grow more as a woman, a wife, and a believer in Christ.  

So Proverbs 31 – The virtuous wife.

Before we even begin to read, I had to look up what virtuous even really meant.  The ESV version uses the word “excellent.”  Good ol’ google uses “having or showing high moral standards.”

But what does that really mean?  I’m more of a one-word definition type of girl.  Some synonyms are: righteous, good, pure, “whiter than white.”

Let’s pause for a moment… “whiter than white”…this synonym made me pause and squint real hard to make sure I was reading it correctly.  Because if it literally means “whiter than white” I am truly virtuous.  ;). Any other pale skin girls?  The type of pale the sun literally reflects off your legs and your need sunglasses so you don’t blind yourself? ; )

Unfortunately just based off our skin tone does not qualify us as virtuous.  When I think of “whiter than white” I think of pure, holy, kind, and loving.  A woman that reflects Christ in every aspect of her daily life.

Now that we know what a virtuous wife is, let’s read what she is like.

Verse 10 says,  “An excellent wife who can find?  She is far more precious than jewels.”  

A woman who loves Jesus is worth more than any jewel.  We may not feel like it or look like it all the time, but remember what our worth is found in.

Verse 11 – “The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain.”

My husband is my best friend.  I can’t imagine if he wasn’t.  We still use phrases like “PINKY PROMISE,” even though we both trust each other.  My husband trusts me so much that he can tell me where my Christmas presents are and I will not go look.  I am tempted to look. ;). When tempted, I just remember how happy he will be when he sees how surprised I am. 

He will have no lack of gain.”  Once again, I am puzzled, what does that even mean?  Different translations add some more insight:

NIV – Lacks nothing of value.

NLT – She will greatly enrich his life.

CSB – He will not lack anything good.

CEV – She never lets him down.

What does it mean to not lack value or anything good?  As a wife it may be caring for the physical needs, I tend to think this has to do more with a spiritual need.

As a wife, I feel I need to be a source of confidence for my husband.  To give him hope when he needs it.  To encourage him and to show I believe in him.  I am learning, men need this more and more every day.  

“I love you.”  “You did great!”  “I appreciate you helping me.”  “Thank you!”

I notice when my husband hears these sayings more and more, his confidence grows and he believes more in himself.  He feels purpose and love in our home.  

Galatians 5 talks about the Fruits of the Spirit.  The Fruits of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  

I hope to work more on providing these fruits to me and my husband everyday.  

Verse 12: “She does him good and not evil.  All the days of her life.”  

All is a big word.  Thankfully we constantly receive grace from God.  We are not perfect.  But how much different would our day be if we realized honoring and reflecting Christ is the goal for the day.  Going to work, doing chores, and running errands are just opportunities to reflect, share, and grow in Jesus.  

Let’s work on loving Jesus and being a reflection of Jesus to our husbands every day, ALL day.  

Jesus loves you oh virtuous wife.